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An introduction from Rosemary Martin...

I have been gardening now as a hobby for about thirty years, but
have no formal training.. I don't have a
favourite style of gardening, traditional is nice, but I
also think the modern trends work well.

This column adds a new dimension to my interest in all aspects of
horticulture and will hopefully help others find pleasure in
this healthy and therapeutic pastime ...

Please e-mail me
with your garden problems, comments, or ideas for this section oflaterlife,
remembering to tell me which country you are from..

Keep house plants well watered and misted
with a spray, to help keep aphids and red spider
mite at bay. If you are going on holiday ask someone to look
after your plants, but if that is not possible, move them to
a shady part of your home, making sure they have ample
water. There are self-watering systems available from most
good garden centres and DIY stores.

Lawns

Lawns will still need frequent mowings
during August, especially with all the rain we've
had. If you are going away on holiday, allow the grass
cuttings to stay on the lawn for a couple of weeks prior to your
trip, which will help keep the lawn moist.

Herbaceous borders

Continue dead-heading, weeding and hoeing to
keep the borders looking neat. You can sow many biennials
straight into the ground this month; Cornflowers,
Californian Poppies, Foxgloves
and Sweet Williams, are all good examples that will get away
to an early start next year. Collect seeds from the
various hardy annuals you want, jumble them all up and throw them
into the borders. The result will be great and you can always thin
out those you don't want.

Vegetables

Shallots and autumn-sown onions should be
ready for lifting in dry weather. Lift them on a dry day (if
you can find one) and then tie them and hang them in a cool,
dry place. There is still time to sow a last batch of
lettuce which will be appreciated in the autumn. Keep
picking runner beans.

Ponds

More maintenance this month to keep the pond
free of algae and aphids. I always enjoyed blasting aphids
from foliage with the hose pipe and then watching the fish
eat them. Don't leave the fish to their own devices if you
are going away - get a neighbour to feed them and keep an
eye on them. If we have a dry spell, (anything is possible!)
the water level in your pond can quickly drop and it is
essential to top it up slowly, not introducing too much tap
water too quickly. The temperature should not fluctuate
either.

Wildlife

Animals of all kinds are already beginning
to prepare for the long winter ahead, so start to be
vigilant about feeding the birds, making sure they always
have sufficient available food. I have already noticed an
increase in the wasp population this year, and apart from
being a little early, they seem smaller than usual.
Certainly not the Euro wasp we have been told to watch out
for

Still with the
National Trust, some of the most
visited National Trust properties are now holding regular farmers' and food
markets.Click here for details
and dates.

RHS gardens

Their four flagship gardens not only provide
year-round interest and offer a wide range of courses, talks and
demonstrations, they also demonstrate the best gardening practices, new
techniques and exciting new plants to try in your garden.

Tickets for RHS
members

Privilege rate tickets are available for RHS members
to all RHS shows, but tickets must be booked in advance.
Click on the individual show links below for further
information.RHS members are not charged a booking fee for tickets
purchased except for advanced tickets to the Malvern
shows.
To
find out how to become an RHS member click here

Do you take advantage of the BBC Gardening website for
information? I find it a valuable source of information, for up
to date legislation, countryside matters and useful information
such as plant pests and diseases, which saves me ploughing
through all my gardening books, with the knowledge that their
information is bang up to date...

Thompson & Morgan

Visit
www.thompson-morgan.com
where full information is available on their product varieties and orders
can be taken on-line. Have a look to see what is new and any special
seasonal offers

Some places to visit...

The living theatre of plants and peopleThe Eden Project is a gateway into the world of plants and
people. A meeting place for all to discover how we depend on plants
and how we can help to manage and conserve them for our mutual
survival.

Gardening is an important part of many people's lives. You
don't have to give up gardening because of accident or illness, the
onset of disability or the problems associated with growing older.
The information on their website is designed to provide you with the
information to Carry on Gardening.

Carry on Gardening was initiated by the horticultural charity
Thrive and is funded by the
National Lottery Charities Board. It brings together
information on easy ways of gardening gathered over 23 years by
Thrive and research carried out since the early 1970s by Mary
Marlborough Centre, Oxford, on tools and equipment for disabled and
older people.

Useful reading:-

"The Yellow Book" contains information of all
Gardens of England and Wales open for charity, and can be bought
priced ?5 from National Gardens Scheme www.ngs.org.uk

National Trust Gardens Handbook is ?6.99 and the
new edition is out in May Telephone 01394 389 950 or see
their website www.nationaltrust.org.uk